*TEHRAN: *Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has warned theUnited States of “painful consequences for everybody” if there is anescalation in tensions with the Islamic republic.

Zarif also accused the US of “playing a very, very dangerous game” in aninterview with *CNN* aired on Tuesday.

“There will be painful consequences for everybody (if) there is anescalation against Iran, that’s for sure,” he said.

Tensions have risen between Washington and Tehran as the US has deployed anaval carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf over unspecified allegedIranian “threats”.

“Having all these military assets in a small waterway is in itself prone toaccident particularly when you have people who are interested in accidents.So extreme prudence is required and we believe the US is playing a very,very dangerous game,” Zarif said.

US President Donald Trump further stoked the fire in a tweet on Sunday thatsuggested Iran would be destroyed if it attacked US interests.

On Monday Trump appeared to play down the immediate threat posed by Iranand saidhe was ready to talk if Tehran takes the first step.

But Zarif said that Iran is “not going to talk to people who have brokentheir promises.”

He was referring to Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal lastyear and reimposition of sanctions that had been lifted in exchange forIran scaling back its nuclear programme.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech on Tuesday thatwhenever Trump’s administration threatens Iran, international and domesticpressure means “they regret it in less than two hours”.

“All those with the responsibility of the world on their shoulders tell theWhite House that this was a very dangerous thing to say … (and) thePentagon’s pressure makes the president apologise and say we don’t mean towage war or attack,” he added. -APP/AFP